Author Archives: Barbara Pattee

Story Starters, Part 3

“Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose, or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic and fear which is inherent in a human situation.”–Graham Greene

Have you ever found yourself with the wrong friends? A fur hunter in the 1800s was severely injured after a bear attack. Because one of his hunting companions didn’t want to be burdened with continuing to drag the dying man through the brutally cold, uncharted wilderness, he buried the wounded man alive. Wrong companions, riveting adventure. The Revenant is based on a true story of perseverance.

What if you felt that you were born in the wrong body? In the early 20th century, artist Einar Wegener was married to Gerda when he began to realize that he was a woman in a man’s body. With the love and encouragement of his wife, he eventually sought gender re-identification surgery to become Lili Elbe. Wrong body, passionate love story. The movie, The Danish Girl, is loosely based on a true story.

Have you ever found yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time? The nine year old son of a Nazi commandant living near a Jewish internment camp approaches the camp’s wire fence and befriends an imprisoned boy his age. Eventually the Nazi’s naive son crawls under the fence to join his new friend in finding the boy’s lost mother. Wrong place, wrong time, heartbreaking fictional story. The first draft of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas was written by John Boyne in two and a half days.

What would you do if you felt an attraction to someone of your same gender? Carol, an older, soon-to-be divorced mother of one daughter, is attracted to Therese, a young salesclerk and aspiring photographer. A developing romance between the two women in the early 1950s showed the harsh consequences of their love affair. Wrong time, strained relationship. The movie, Carol, is a story based on the novel, The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith.

Have you ever questioned the word of authorities? A Nigerian forensic pathologist’s research on severe brain injuries or chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) causes an uproar in the world of American football. The National Football League questions his findings as Dr. Bennet Omalu questions the NFL’s lack of concern for its players’ wellbeing. Wrong concerns, on-going controversy. The movie, Concussion, is a true story based on the research of Dr. Bennet Omalu.

Consider now what you see as the wrong company, physique, location, relationship, focus, or any other wrong that you see in the human condition. As a writer, you can analyze, portray, or correct what you see as wrong. Don’t just think about it. Write about it. Are you game?

No Excuses

“If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.” Jim Rohm

Happy 2016! This is the year I stop blogging under my pseudonym, Book Lover, and use my real name, Barbara Pattee.

My commitments for 2016 include writing for a minimum of five hours per week. Some weeks will be easy. Others will involve working around family obligations and vacations, but I’m determined. Recording my daily progress will help.

Another commitment is to read three books on the Civil War to facilitate the research for my historical novel. One of the books I started reading is a Newbery Honor Book, To Be a Slave by Julius Lester. In this book, the numerous personal testimonies on the experiences of slaves are heart wrenching and enlightening. These stories convinced me to change my novel’s timeline to just before the Civil War.

For my final recorded commitment, I will present three more chapters of my historical fiction to the Deadwood Writers for comments. By researching pre-Civil War and beyond and writing five hours per week, I should be able to present the first of the three additional chapters within three months.

Have you made your writing commitments for 2016? Have you also made plans to stick to your commitments?

 

Story Starters Part 2

I quoted an unknown author last month who stated “Bad decisions make good stories.” To this I will add, good decisions also make compelling stories.

A suddenly wealthy African American woman buys a town she discovered for sale on the internet. Henry Adams, Kansas, is one of the last surviving townships founded by freed slaves after the Civil War. She promises to fix up the rundown town but asked for one thing in return: the townspeople must take in orphaned and/or abandoned children. Of course, many townspeople fight the deal. Good decision, life altering story. “Bring on the Blessings” by Beverly Jenkins.

Two angels work together to help a dying man who refuses to cross over because he didn’t want to leave his only grandson alone. The angels bring in a memory taker, who happens to be the grandson’s lost love. The grandfather was responsible for getting rid of her years ago, but she accepts the assignment anyway. Good decision, heartwarming story. “The Touch” by Karen White Owens.

A woman barely survives the slaughter of her family and other Tutsis by the Hutus. Her faith in God gives her enough strength to tell her story and to forgive the Hutus. Heart wrenching decision, riveting memoir. “Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust” by Immaculee Ilibagiza.

A pharmaceutical sales representative files a sexual harassment suit against her boss. The company’s attorney is reluctant to take her case. The boss accuses the sales rep of stealing the company’s HIV cure to take the focus off him in the harassment suit. The attorney decides to take her case in spite of his attraction to her. Good decision, thrilling love story. “Acquisitions” by Kimberley White.

Katie Wilkinson is in love with the perfect man when he suddenly disappears leaving only a woman’s diary for her to read. Katie reluctantly begins reading the stranger’s diary which reveals a love story that changes her life forever. Good decision, touching story. “Suzanne’s Diary” by James Patterson.

A reporter receives a flyer in the mail that asks “Have You Seen This Child?” The child pictured in the flyer looks like her legally adopted son. Her reporter’s instincts win the fight with her protective instincts to discover the truth about her son’s birth parents. The search could cost the lives of herself and her son. Moral decision, great thriller. “Look Again” by Lisa Scottoline.

Take a second look at your stories. Have your characters made good, as well as bad, decisions that make your story riveting? Mysteries, romances, and memoirs all need compelling decisions that pull your readers into the story.

Story Starters

“Bad decisions make good stories.” – Author Unknown

“Let’s recreate the dinosaurs.” Bad decision, great story – “Jurassic Park.”

Walking down a dark alley in the middle of the night during a zombie apocalypse is a dumb idea. Scary story – “The Walking Dead.”

Disgruntled employee steals money from her employer and spends the night at the Bates Motel. Two wrong decisions, terrifying story – “Psycho.”

Man marries a beautiful and fascinating woman he just met. That wrong decision resulted in the deaths of several people. Great psychological drama – “Leave Her to Heaven.”

While having his portrait painted, a hedonistic aristocrat fears losing his flawless looks. He curses the painting and pledges his soul if the painting would take on the ravages of growing older. Reprehensible decision, a great moral tale – “The Portrait of Dorian Gray.”

A wealthy widowed nobleman, father of one beloved daughter, marries a self-centered widow, mother of two mean daughters. Unwise decision, classic fairy tale – “Cinderella.”

Not knowing there are two bodies buried under his front lawn, a mild mannered man kills an abusive acquaintance. He hides the body out back at the end of his property. Terrible decision, great thriller – “Three Graves Full” by Jamie Mason.

A vain spoiled Catholic widow gives birth to a horribly disfigured baby and refuses to nurture him. Evil decision, riveting story of the child’s intellect and survival skills – “Phantom” by Susan Kay. This tale is the powerful prequel to the well-known “Phantom of the Opera.”

Brilliant scientist invents and tests a teleportation device using himself as the subject. Dangerous decision, horrifying story – “The Fly.”

George Langelaan wrote a short story of the same title which was first published in Playboy magazine in June, 1957. Little did he know his story would spawn several movie versions of that terrifying tale.

Read any well-written story or watch any successful movie to find the bad decision that made a great story. Remember the movies where there is danger behind the door the protagonist is about to open. “Don’t open the door!” you were tempted to shout. If the protagonist listened to you, there wouldn’t be a story. Let the idiot open the door. Allow the beautiful woman to choose the wrong lover. Dare the naïve teenager to meet a stranger at the park. That’s where the good stories start.

What bad decisions will your characters make that would create an intriguing thriller, a heartbreaking mystery, or a happily-ever-after romance?

Frustration

“Writing: Somewhere between torture and fun.” – The Write Practice

“I just sit at my typewriter and curse a bit.” — P.G. Wodehouse

Frustration

My current project, an historical novel, started as a short story written during a creative writing class. The sudden death of an important, but minor, character propelled the scenes to a heartbreaking conclusion. After reading my final version aloud, I looked up to see tears flowing from the eyes of several classmates. Pleased that my work received the emotional response I desired, I shelved the story with no plans for further development.

For several years the characters continued to invade my thoughts insisting I reveal more about their lives. I finally relented and gave them proper historical names, added more dialogue, and expanded their storyline. My short story became the catalyst, but not the beginning, of a novel.

The words spilled onto the pages for months until suddenly the plot stalled because my characters rebelled at the direction I took them. The character who died now wanted a more significant role than originally planned. This character asked for, no, demanded to be resurrected to find a place in this world, to see the changing seasons, to experience adventures, to feel loved.

This frustrated me because that character’s inclusion changed the entire plot forcing me to do more research to add authenticity to the details.

Call me crazy if you wish, but I now believe what some writers have said about their characters talking to them. The characters know their story better than I do. After all, it is their story, not mine. I’m only the storyteller or historian whose job it is to simply tell their story in a convincing, thought provoking way.

Do your characters speak to you? If so, do you listen? Have you changed a storyline to accommodate your characters’ desires?